Barn Swallows in Massachusetts
When barn swallows are present in Massachusetts, when they nest, which native Massachusetts plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 5a–7b yard.
- Status in Massachusetts
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5a–7b
When to expect barn swallows in Massachusetts
Barn Swallows are summer residents in Massachusetts, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on flies, beetles and moths.
Humid continental with maritime influence on Cape Cod and the islands.
Nesting in Massachusetts
Across Massachusetts, barn swallows typically nest from May–July. Nest site: mud cup on beams and ledges under shelter. Females lay 3–7 eggs, incubate for 12–17 days, and young leave the nest after 15–27 days.
Warm summers; nesting peaks late May to July.
- Barn Swallows don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as flowering dogwood, serviceberry, white oak for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Massachusetts plants that attract barn swallows
Of the regional native plants we track for Massachusetts, these 8 provide food or cover barn swallows use:
Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Blue-black fall fruit and dense nesting cover.
Lipid-rich red fruit fuels fall migrants.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Feeding barn swallows through the Massachusetts year
Barn swallows nest on ledges under eaves and in barns; an open-front ledge shelf gives them a site.
- Best foods: .
- In Massachusetts's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Frequently asked
Are barn swallows in Massachusetts year-round?
No. Barn Swallows are summer breeders in Massachusetts and leave for the winter.
When do barn swallows nest in Massachusetts?
Nesting in Massachusetts typically runs May–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 3–7 eggs, incubated for 12–17 days.
What native plants attract barn swallows in Massachusetts?
Flowering dogwood, Serviceberry, White oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Spicebush, New England aster are native plants in Massachusetts that provide food or cover for barn swallows.
Barn Swallows in other regions
Other backyard birds in Massachusetts
Sources
- Barn Swallow — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Barn Swallow life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Barn Swallow — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Massachusetts
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.